Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-10-20
CHAPTER XVI.

CHAPTER XVI
The Flaggs, in high state of pleas
urable excitement-alI talking very
fast-united in congratulating Tad so
warmly on his good fortune that
it was some little time before
they left Miss Smiths house for
their own home. Then Mr.. Mason
and his wife must perforce hear the
strange adventures of the alligator
skin sachel, from the very beginning,
and receive from his lips true and
unembellished account of the pursuit
and capture of the willy Edwards,
from whom had been so successfully
recovered the fur-lined cloak, which
had played its part in the story, to all
of which they listened with express
sions of unfeigned interest and wonder
at did me a good turn once" con-
Guided Tad, in reference to the article
in question; ''now I've done 1t One."
And he steadfastly refused to listen to
the gentleman's prOffer of a money re-
ward, to Miss Smiths secret satisfac-
ton. till Mr.. Mason, with great show
of affected indignation, tossed bill on
the table, beside the others, and told
Tad to take it and give it to foreign
missions or to the soldiers monument
fund-he didn't care which, or, if he
thought better of it, he might put it in
the savings bank.-As for himself the
money might lie there forever
wouldn't touch it again. And, sum-
moning Mrs. Mason, who, in her graf
itude gave Tad hearty goodnight
kiss, her husband went to his room,
and banged the door behind him very
hard, as though he were angry.
"Well, Tad" said Miss Smith, put
ting on her glasses and glancing at the
pile of bills on the table, "this has
been one of the days, hasn't it? Five
hundred and--ifty dollarsn she ex-
claimed, taking up the bill left by Mr..
Mason. ''Well, wellr'
Its too much, every way" returned
Tad, who hardly knew whether he was
on his head or his heels.
.'Tain't too much" snapped Miss
Smith. THAT Anterior man, who
ac's as though his spine was froze stiff.
orter give you an even thousand his
self. Look at them di'munds- sixty
five hundred dollars with and you
riskin' your life to capter' 'em back
from that bloodthirsty bu' glar!''
Il wish, then, yow'd take the money,
and put it somewheres in the bank
where yours is" finally said Tad,
who already was beginning to realize
what the French call 1.-The embarrass-
ment of riches"
MAY be that would be best" re-
turned Miss Smith, thoughtfully; "but L
must give you some sort of a writing
| to show for it, in case any thing hap
pens to me-"
"Oh, dear!" sighed Tad, "what
should 1 do if any thing did happen to
you, I'd never find anybody else in the
whole world I should like to work for
as L do for you Miss Smith was
strangely moved by this simple appeal,
but she had, as she expressed it, ''broke
down." once that evening, and didn't
propose to again. So she made no re-
ply, but busted herself in getting out
writing materials; rather to Tad's dis
appointment, for he had almost dared
to hope for some little manifestation
of the tenderness that he knew lay
under Miss Smiths crusty exterior.
Turning the lamp up little higher,
Miss Smith sat down to write, and,
after considerable mental effort, sue
ceeded in drawing up the following re-
ceipt:
"Bixport, June D. 1877.
"This certifes that Rhoda A. Smith have
this day Received five hundred and fifty dol
lars. To be deposited with my Money in Mid
dleboro Bank. The same $3.50, dolls being the
property Off
"What is your whole name, child"
asked Miss Smith, suspending her pen
over the paper after writing the word
s'of'
.'Thaddeus Thorne, num-" replied
Tad
"Whatr' exclaimed Miss Smith, drop
ing the pen.
''Thaddeus Thorne," repeated Tad,
little louder.
s'Oh, Lord!'' said Miss Smith, and
stared at Tad so wildly that he almost
feared the events of the day had affected
her brain very little.
''What was your mothers name?"
Miss Smith again asked, in a curiously
repressed tone.
'.Margarita Consuelo Smith, Tad
returned; little hesitatingly, for it
had a rather romantic sound, and he
feared she might laugh at it.
''Any relations iving?" inquired
Miss Smith, in the same constrained
manner.
Tad shook his head.
II suppose I've got an Aunt Rhoda
somewhere" he said. slowly. ''but she
was mad at mother for marrying
father, and never wrote her or any
thing, and mother never said much
about her,
.'Oh. Tad!LTad,'' cried Miss Smith.